Low-speed pursuit ends with crash at Tustin-Irvine border

TUSTIN – A Los Angeles man was arrested Sunday morning following a police chase that wound through at least three cities, beginning near Westminster and ending with a crash at the Tustin-Irvine border, authorities said.

Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Hallock said the chase began about 9:30 a.m. when officers in Rossmoor picked up a signal from an anti-theft tracking device in a vehicle. A Sheriff’s Department helicopter located the signal as coming from a Ford Explorer near Beach and Westminster boulevards. But when officers tried to stop the vehicle, the driver continued east mainly on surface streets, Hallock said, adding that the driver rarely reached high speeds.

Officers tried twice to stop the vehicle, which had been reported stolen in Los Angeles County, but were unsuccessful in disabling the car using what is known as “precision immobilization technique,” Hallock said.

The chase came to an end about 10:30 a.m. at Jamboree Road and Irvine Boulevard when the driver crashed into a Toyota Camry, Tustin police said.

Christian Medina, 21, was arrested and faces several possible charges, including possession of stolen property, evading police and driving under the influence, Hallock said. He was taken to a local hospital, where he’ll likely be under 24-hour observation before being booked into county jail, Hallock said.

A female passenger in the Camry was taken to the hospital with complaints of pain, but police were unsure of her condition.